Robert Anderson is mostly remembered by his heroism at Fort Sumter and his patriotism to this great country. He was a soldier in many wars and a Union army officer in the Civil War. Throughout Anderson’s life he showed great leadership whether in battle or at home. He was a man who would do whatever necessary to keep his country united, either at war or in some another conflict. Throughout the Civil War he was persistent in battle, but also commanding and mild-tempered. He fought and commanded in many battles over his lifetime. Robert Anderson was born on June 14, 1805 in the city of Louisville, Kentucky. He was raised by a southern slave-holding family. The family had many famous ancestors including Chief Justice John Marshall and Charles Anderson who was a former governor of Ohio. Anderson was influenced by his war hero and politician descendants, causing him to dedicate his life to America by choosing a military career. In 1825, Anderson graduated from West Point, being fifth out of a class of 37 students. After West Point, he served as secretary to his brother, Richard, who was the minister for Columbia. Having graduated from West Point he had risen to the ranking major, 1st Artillery, by the time of his assignment on November 15, 1860. He then was assigned to attend artillery school at Fortress Monroe Artillery School. After he completed classes there he went back to West Point to teach artillery as an instructor for 2 years. Among his students were Sherman, Bragg, Beauregard (who became his assistant), McDowell, Meade, Hooker, and Early. In the mid 1830’s, Anderson encountered his first war experience when he commanded Illinois volunteers in the Blackhawk Wars. Then in 1837 he fought in the Seminole Wars... ... middle of paper ... ... the best he could and was always fighting for his country. He was loyal and brave in war and he knew how to lead soldiers into battle. Another principle reflecting Anderson’s life was “Seek the consent of your followers for you to lead them.” Anderson had led many soldiers into battles and he had the strength and leadership to do so. He accepted input from his soldiers and used it to fulfill the mission. “A good leader avoids issuing orders, preferring to request, imply, or make suggestions.” Anderson had the skills to deal with issues within the war and help his brothers in war with his great leadership. Works Cited Phillips, Donald T. Lincoln on Leadership. New York, NY: Warner, 1992. Print. "Robert Anderson Home Page." Robert Anderson Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. "Robert Anderson." Robert Anderson. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
Devillez, Henry. “Reminiscences of the Civil War: Andersonville.” Indiana Magazine of History June 1915. 02 Apr. 2014 .
Martin, S. Walter, and W. W. Blackford. "War Years With Jeb Stuart." The American Historical Review 51, no. 3 (1946): 518.
At the beginning of the Civil War, leaders in the North and South were tasked with selecting the best men possible to lead their troops. Both sides needed to find men of outstanding character in order to succeed in their war efforts. Robert E. Lee showed himself as exactly such a man. President Abraham Lincoln agreed and sought out Lee, an accomplished U.S. military veteran with 32 years of service, to lead the Union troops. Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, knew Lee lived in Virginia, a state that had succeeded from the Union. Davis wanted Lee to command the Confederate Army. Ultimately, Robert E. Lee, a man of great character who valued relationships as the crucial element in leadership, honored those around him and displayed
The Battle of Fredericksburg is remembered as the Confederate Army’s most one-sided victory in its campaign against the Union Forces of the North. It was the first battle to occur shortly after President Abraham Lincoln had delivered his “Emancipation Proclamation” and the President was hard pressed for a victory to bolster public support for it. It would be remembered as the first major campaign for the newly appointed General of the Army of the Potomac. General Ambrose E. Burnside was given command of the Union Army due to an increased frustration President Abraham Lincoln was experiencing with his predecessor. However, General Burnside’s inexperience would cost him dearly on the battlefield. Historical data and battlefield analysis reports show what led to the Unions defeat at Fredericksburg. An alternative outcome was possible had General Burnside
Jackson was always ready to fight for his country. When he was young he went to train at West Point to become a soldier and leader. He wasn’t as bright as some of the other students, but he worked hard pushing to succeed. In the end he ended up 17th in his class, giving him the chance to become 2nd Lieutenant of Artillery in the Mexican War. He lived through the war with no problems. He was admired by the army for his courage, he never backed down. After the Mexican War he went to VMI (Virginia Military Institute) to teach. He had two classes, Natural & Experimental Philosophy and Artillery tactics. He was no professor but a great artillery instructor.
Anderson began his guerrilla movement in 1861 and then died in 1864. Although he fought for only three years, “Bloody Bill” Anderson successfully took down an entire Union division, and distracted Union officers, such as General Thomas Ewing and Samuel P. Cox. By achieving this, Anderson saved the Confederate Army men, as well as supplies. “Bloody Bill” Anderson restated the power and destruction a guerrilla army can hold, which ultimately assisted the Confederate Army.
Robert E Lee is very quick and smart. He knows how to improve the quality of troops and to nullify the Union’s advantage. Lee is willing to make bold and risky moves, and does not let his defeats hinder his performance. General Lee has great relations with his soldiers, and uses his engineering experience to his advantage.
In this newly written biography, General Ulysses S. Grant: the soldier and the man, Civil War historian, Edward G. Longacre, examines Grant’s early life all the way through to his time as a military leader. Longacre takes the time to carefully analyze Grant’s childhood and the type of kid he was. He also examines Grant’s married life and how important his wife was to him. He takes a look at Grant’s early military career and what made him the kind of general he became. A deep focus that Longacre discussed was Grant’s biggest weakness: alcohol. Alcoholism consumed Grant, in the most literal sense, and affected him during his military career. Longacre describes Grant in a new and fascinating perspective in his biography.
In his extraordinary book, Lee the Last Years, Charles Flood gives a rare blend of history and emotion. After Lee’s surrender at Appomattox courthouse, he only lived a total of five years before his death. Some people might think that he was just a general, but the best years of his life were after the war because he changed the minds of the south and he changed education. Even though Robert E. Lee is best remembered for his military campaigns, this is a part of history not told in many history books because he did more than any other American to heal the wounds of the south and he served as a president for Washington College, which was later renamed after his death to be Washington and Lee University.
Edward Porter Alexander, Fighting for the Confederacy: the personal recollections of General Edward Porter Alexander, ed. Gary W. Gallagher (Chapel Hill | London: The University of North Carolina Press, 1989)
Another important person would be Major General George Sykes. He was born on October 9th, 1822 in Dover, Delaware. He graduated from West Point with the Class of 1842 and from there he went to Florida to join in on the second Seminole war. Governor William Burton served in many states during the Civil War, like New Mexico and Texas. He was considered one of the best officers in the Army. In the regular army he was known as “Tardy George.” General George Sykes died while he was in the army on active duty in Texas as the 20th
If Civil Wars could be represented by a single person, the personification of the struggle in the United States between the North and the South would be a frightful individual to behold. Unfortunately, for Jefferson Davis, his life and temperament came close to embodying the gruesome inward fight of the American Civil War (or at least the Southern part). As men go, he was labeled an enigma. He was both a contradiction and a confirmation of himself, unpredictable yet foreseeable. His insecurities were major weaknesses. Without the special skills of a “people person”, he was thrust into a position of leadership over unorganized and untrained men. Despite these things, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, attempted to overcome all of it. In this way, he exemplified the Civil War and the further internal strains of the American South.
Winfield Scott was one of America's most prominent and honored war heroes. Serving in The United States Army for over 50 years, Scott experienced the throes of battle in three different wars. Winfield Scott served in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War (1832), the Mexican War (1846-1848), and the American Civil War (1861-1865), (The World Book Encyclopedia, 2004). This paper will discuss Winfield Scott's life during some the most historic time in The United States, and will show how his actions helped to form our military tactics.
When said, the name Wade Hampton III, brings to mind one of the most prolific Civil War heroes in history; Confederate history, that is. Known throughout not only South Carolina, but, the whole United State, Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton III, was in many ways what the South had always hoped to become. Unfortunately many historians overlook the latter part of Hampton’s life and focus mainly on his military accomplishments during the Civil War. When studying the life of Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton III, It is clear to see that because of his prolific military career, Hampton was made a heroine in the South, which in turn solidified his political career allowing him to take the South Carolina gubernatorial race of 1876 with much ease.
Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee are best known for their careers in leading the Confederate Army. Few people know anything about them beyond battles fought and wars lost. History is written by the victors, and the victors have essentially extinguished all perceived importance of these two fallen leaders. However, both were not only soldiers fighting for a lost cause, but also educators. Both taught many of those who would fight alongside and against them in the war that ripped the United States of America in half. While the two had similar backgrounds and military careers, their careers in education were vastly different.